with a new baby at home, there aren’t many travel plans on my horizon (unless you count our recent drive to houston which took almost seven hours due to stops for baby bottles and toddler bathroom breaks – eek!). as a result, i’ve recently acquired a serious case of wanderlust that has involved a significant increase of travel pins on pinterest, and a growing list of places to visit in the next few years.
instagram has also been a welcome refuge, giving me a view into uncharted territories, and allowing me to see life on the other side of the globe, even during 3am feedings. the instagram accounts that i’ve shared below are by people across the world who provide daily glimpses into life in their city or country.
france
@bonjourmarinmontagut
marin montagut is an artist based in paris whose illustrations on scarves, tote bags, prints, etc. have me yearning for a trip to the french countryside. his instagram stories are even better than his feed, with plentiful scenes of idyllic picnics in meadows, colorful travels to morocco, and charming french homes. also, his curly hair, large smile, and blue and white striped shirts are trés chic.
@fattireparis
fat tire tours offer english-speaking tours within paris and the surrounding area. their feed is full of bright photos of the best cafés, pastries, museums, and neighborhoods, and they regularly share stories on their blog on their favorite finds throughout the city. my recent favorites included their photo shares of hotel panache and l’éclair de genie desserts. i find myself pinning many of their suggestions for future trips to the city of lights (and I most definitely want to take their bike tour of monet’s home and gardens).
america
the next two accounts include some of the most splendid photos of america’s natural beauty.
@kevinruss
kevin russ is a photographer who has inspired me so much that i purchased a large photo of a horse from him to go above our fireplace. constantly on the road and shooting from his iphone, his photos of nature are both breathtaking and simple. a recent project includes a postcard subscription service.
@brooke_weeber
brooke weeber is an illustrator based in portland, oregon whose work is under the name little canoe. while her illustrations are wonderful, it’s her photos of her daily life that are most beautiful. photos of camping, hiking, and mountain climbing in the pacific northwest have me wanting to rush to REI to buy a tent (and if you know me, you know this is not something i would normally do). her photos provide a sense of peace and calm that is refreshing when scrolling through instagram.
istanbul
@istanbultimes
i stumbled onto this account when they started following me, and i just love it. located in istanbul, the hotel ibrahim pasha posts photos of daily life in the city – street scenes, markets, public squares, etc. i’ve never visited turkey – though it is high on my list – and these photos give a sense of the city and its people in a pleasantly unposed way. i also had no idea how beautiful of a city instanbul was until following this account; there are stunning buildings, mosques, cobblestone streets, and cafés.
copenhagen (and beyond)
@katiearmour
i’ve been following katie since her days at matchbook mag, and since i learned of our mutual love for pugs, matisse, and beautiful textiles. she recently moved from new york to copenhagen, and i cannot get enough of her gorgeous photos of the city. katie is also a frequent traveler, and i’m constantly in awe of her photos of places such as london, jaipur, paris, and istanbul. katie’s blog, katie considers (fka the neo-traditionalist), is also worth a follow if you appreciate good style.
india
@banjanan
i learned of @banjanan when @katiearmour traveled to india several months ago. banjanan is a clothing line from caroline weller, and is based in jaipur, india. in addition to behind-the-scenes shots of her clothing line, she also shares scenes from her life. recent favorites of mine included shots of her pug, rosie, and videos from the week when three men hand-painted a wall in her house (the details!). the colors are bright, but even brighter is caroline’s dedication to sustainable processes and a fair wage for her workers.
everywhere!
@withthelocals
each week, a new city is highlighted by a local resident of that city. i have pinned so many suggestions from their guides that i’ve stopped counting. i truly believe that the best way to travel is with local recommendations, and @withthelocals makes this possible. recent cities included los angeles, london, oakland, nashville, barcelona, and madison.
do you know of any good accounts that i’m missing? i’m in search for great local feeds from japan, southeast asia, and south america – any ideas?